Prayer rugs are decorated with a variety of patterns. Almost all of them have a clear top and bottom: the worshiper stands on the bottom and the top points towards Mecca. The top is called the Mihrab, which symbolizes the prayer niche, and has the design of an archway. The Mihrab design is characteristic of prayer rugs, and is how they are usually identified. Some prayer rugs, called saffs, are designed with multiple niches, all facing the same direction, and intended for use by more than one person at a time. Most mosques are carpeted with some form of saffs. The designs of prayer rugs can be simple or intricate depending on class and where they are produced. For example, Indian prayer rugs usually feature floral designs and fruits, while Persian prayer rugs have fruits woven throughout, and other rugs from Asia Minor are designed with columns or trees. The design of trees in prayer rugs represents the tree of life, called the "Lote Tree of the Boundary." A popular design on prayer rugs is lamps, placed under the niche. There is a verse in the Qur'an (24:35) that says "God is the light of the heavens and the earth; the likeness of His light is a niche wherein is a lamp." Because nothing other than God is perfect, most prayer rugs have a flaw made purposely in their design or manufacturing.
Importance to Islam:
Prayer rugs, sajjada in Arabic, have evolved to be a traditional aspect of Muslim prayer and are symbolic of Islam. Prayer rugs are not required in Islam, but they serve an important role in salat, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Muslims are required to pray five times every day, and they must be clean while doing so. Most Muslims bathe before prayer, and in absence of water use sand or dirt to clean themselves. To separate the worshiper from the dirty ground, any cloth will do. Muhammad is recorded as praying on his own clothes, mats, or a quilt. The floors of mosques are covered in carpeting, with multiple prayer niches. Therefore, it is not necessary for Muslims with access to a mosque to have a prayer rug or any personal prayer mat. Muslims use personal prayer rugs for traveling or when they cannot attend a mosque to pray. They also provide a clean and traditional place for Muslims to focus privately in prayer.
Bibliography:
Morris, Francis. "Prayer Rugs". Bulletin of the Metropolitin Museum of Art. 1921. 252 - 253. JSTOR. MICDS Library, Ladue, Missouri. 5 November 2009. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3254694>
The first thing I did was go to Wikipedia, search "prayer rugs," and scroll down to the bottom of the page to see if there were any helpful links. Unfortunately, there were only two, neither of which provided much information. I next went to the databases and searched JSTOR for prayer rugs, which led me to my first source. I took some notes from there, and then used some of the keywords to search on Blackle for a website source. The first website I found was very descriptive and helpful, although it still left some gaps. To find another website - one written with a little easier language - I used some keywords from that site and again Blackled them.
Research Notes:
Not unusual to pray on things that aren't prayer rugs
Sand
Sleeping rug
Mat
Old Oriental prayer rugs were designed for people of high rank
Identifiable by mihrab
Representation of prayer niche
"recess in wall of mosque" facing Mecca
Face Mihrab when praying
Differences in old prayer rugs from place to place:
Arches of Mihrabs
"distribution of field ornament" - floral and vegetable patterns
In Persian rugs interspersed, Indian featured
Shape of lamp
Columns
Create isolated space to concentrate Cleanliness - purpose of prayer rugs!
Clean self before prayer
Rug separates from dirty ground
Mihrab is at top of rug
Worshiper stands at bottom
Sajjada = Arabic for prayer rug
Salat - one of 5 pillars
Prayer rugs are not a necessity in Islam
Any cloth will do
Most mosques have "appropriate prayer surface"
Mihrab symbolizes gateway to paradise
Lamp sybolizes God's light
Tree symbolizes tree of life
Some rugs have stylized hands or feet to show where they should be placed
"always contain some imperfection to remind the faithful that only Allah is perfect"
Emily Shy and Elise Elliott:
Research notes:
The first article (http://islam.about.com/od/prayer/f/prayer_rugs.htm) was about the purpose of prayer rugs, their appearance, and the meanings behind the images depicted on them. This site said that prayer rugs are not essential to Muslim faith, but they are commonly used by Muslims. It said that the rugs usually have a defined top and bottom so that one knows which end faces Mecca when they pray. It also stated that rugs can have many different designs. The thing I found out that was the most interesting about the prayer rugs was that the Arabic word for prayer rug comes from the same roots as prostrate (to kneel) and Mosque.
The second (http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/islam_in_the_us/41772) and third article (http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Prayer_mat) went into more specifics about designs on sajajid, and the significance of prayer rugs to Muslims. The third explained that the rug is the connection to Allah for the worshiper. Both articles mentioned designs such as lamps (light of Allah), and pitchers/combs to remind worshipers to wash before prayer.
The database article provided basic information such as information about the arch design, and explained where sajajid are used and for what purposes.
Summary:
Prayer rugs are important, but not essential to, the Islamic faith. Muslims are required by their religion to perform the five pillars of their faith. One of these pillars is praying five times a day in the direction of Mecca. This prayer has to be done on a clean surface which is why Muslims are not allowed to wear shoes into a Mosque. These prayer rugs are an easy way for Muslims to ensure that the surface that they are praying on is clean. They will unroll them when it is time to pray and then roll them back up immediately afterward to keep them clean. These prayer rugs often have images that go along with beliefs in the religion. Commonly, there are depictions of arches to show which end of the rug should point towards Mecca. These rugs never contain images of people or beings because they believe that only Allah can create life.
A number of images can be found on prayer rugs (sajjada, in Arabic). The arch design, mentioned above, is their most distinguishing feature. It symbolizes a mihrab (translated, the "gateway to paradise"), or a prayer niche in all mosques. Other depictions on the rug could include the light of Allah in the form of a lamp hanging in the archway, markings to show the worshiper where they are meant to be during prayer, reminders to wash before prayer (wudu) in the form of water jugs and combs, and quotes from the Quran. As it is believed that only Allah is perfect, the sajjada always contains flaws. As the rug is said to be the very tie between the worshiper and Allah during prayer, they are treated in a very respectful manner. The rugs are always dimensionally small (usually three feet by five feet) for ease in transport.
We conducted our research by starting simple and searching "Islamic prayer rugs" on Google. In this way we found one of our articles and the pictures we needed. Once we found the term "sajjada", we refined our searches by combining the two search phrases. The database article was found by using an online encyclopedia database and searching for Islamic art.
Hayley Landman:
Description:
Prayer rugs are decorated with a variety of patterns. Almost all of them have a clear top and bottom: the worshiper stands on the bottom and the top points towards Mecca. The top is called the Mihrab, which symbolizes the prayer niche, and has the design of an archway. The Mihrab design is characteristic of prayer rugs, and is how they are usually identified. Some prayer rugs, called saffs, are designed with multiple niches, all facing the same direction, and intended for use by more than one person at a time. Most mosques are carpeted with some form of saffs. The designs of prayer rugs can be simple or intricate depending on class and where they are produced. For example, Indian prayer rugs usually feature floral designs and fruits, while Persian prayer rugs have fruits woven throughout, and other rugs from Asia Minor are designed with columns or trees. The design of trees in prayer rugs represents the tree of life, called the "Lote Tree of the Boundary." A popular design on prayer rugs is lamps, placed under the niche. There is a verse in the Qur'an (24:35) that says "God is the light of the heavens and the earth; the likeness of His light is a niche wherein is a lamp." Because nothing other than God is perfect, most prayer rugs have a flaw made purposely in their design or manufacturing.
Importance to Islam:
Prayer rugs, sajjada in Arabic, have evolved to be a traditional aspect of Muslim prayer and are symbolic of Islam. Prayer rugs are not required in Islam, but they serve an important role in salat, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Muslims are required to pray five times every day, and they must be clean while doing so. Most Muslims bathe before prayer, and in absence of water use sand or dirt to clean themselves. To separate the worshiper from the dirty ground, any cloth will do. Muhammad is recorded as praying on his own clothes, mats, or a quilt. The floors of mosques are covered in carpeting, with multiple prayer niches. Therefore, it is not necessary for Muslims with access to a mosque to have a prayer rug or any personal prayer mat. Muslims use personal prayer rugs for traveling or when they cannot attend a mosque to pray. They also provide a clean and traditional place for Muslims to focus privately in prayer.
Bibliography:
Morris, Francis. "Prayer Rugs". Bulletin of the Metropolitin Museum of Art. 1921. 252 - 253. JSTOR. MICDS Library, Ladue, Missouri. 5 November 2009. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3254694>
"Prayer Rugs 101." Suite 101.Com. 16 June 2000. 10 November 2009. <http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/islam_in_the_us/41772>
"Prayer Rugs and Related Textiles". New England Rug Society. November 2002. 8 November 2009. <http://www.ne-rugsociety.org/gallery/prayer-rugs-fall-2002/ners-prayer-rug-intro.htm>
"What are Prayer Rugs and How are they Used by Muslims?". About.Com: Islam. 9 November 2009. <http://islam.about.com/od/prayer/f/prayer_rugs.htm>
Photos:
Alhannah. "rug 3." 15 July 2009. Alhannah Islamic Clothing Blog. 10 November 2009. <http://blog.alhannah.com/2009/07/15/many-new-prayer-rugs-available-now/>
Anatolian. "Entrant Prayer Rug Anatolia late 15th early 16th century Reverse." Wikipedia. 9 November 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Re_entrant_prayer_rug_Anatolia_late_15th_early_16th_century_reverse.jpg>
Research:
How I found my sources:
The first thing I did was go to Wikipedia, search "prayer rugs," and scroll down to the bottom of the page to see if there were any helpful links. Unfortunately, there were only two, neither of which provided much information. I next went to the databases and searched JSTOR for prayer rugs, which led me to my first source. I took some notes from there, and then used some of the keywords to search on Blackle for a website source. The first website I found was very descriptive and helpful, although it still left some gaps. To find another website - one written with a little easier language - I used some keywords from that site and again Blackled them.
Research Notes:
Not unusual to pray on things that aren't prayer rugs
Sand
Sleeping rug
Mat
Old Oriental prayer rugs were designed for people of high rank
Identifiable by mihrab
Representation of prayer niche
"recess in wall of mosque" facing Mecca
Face Mihrab when praying
Differences in old prayer rugs from place to place:
Arches of Mihrabs
"distribution of field ornament" - floral and vegetable patterns
In Persian rugs interspersed, Indian featured
Shape of lamp
Columns
Create isolated space to concentrate
Cleanliness - purpose of prayer rugs!
Clean self before prayer
Rug separates from dirty ground
Mihrab is at top of rug
Worshiper stands at bottom
Sajjada = Arabic for prayer rug
Salat - one of 5 pillars
Prayer rugs are not a necessity in Islam
Any cloth will do
Most mosques have "appropriate prayer surface"
Mihrab symbolizes gateway to paradise
Lamp sybolizes God's light
Tree symbolizes tree of life
Some rugs have stylized hands or feet to show where they should be placed
"always contain some imperfection to remind the faithful that only Allah is perfect"
Emily Shy and Elise Elliott:
Research notes:
The first article (http://islam.about.com/od/prayer/f/prayer_rugs.htm) was about the purpose of prayer rugs, their appearance, and the meanings behind the images depicted on them. This site said that prayer rugs are not essential to Muslim faith, but they are commonly used by Muslims. It said that the rugs usually have a defined top and bottom so that one knows which end faces Mecca when they pray. It also stated that rugs can have many different designs. The thing I found out that was the most interesting about the prayer rugs was that the Arabic word for prayer rug comes from the same roots as prostrate (to kneel) and Mosque.
The second (http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/islam_in_the_us/41772) and third article (http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Prayer_mat) went into more specifics about designs on sajajid, and the significance of prayer rugs to Muslims. The third explained that the rug is the connection to Allah for the worshiper. Both articles mentioned designs such as lamps (light of Allah), and pitchers/combs to remind worshipers to wash before prayer.
The database article provided basic information such as information about the arch design, and explained where sajajid are used and for what purposes.
Summary:
Prayer rugs are important, but not essential to, the Islamic faith. Muslims are required by their religion to perform the five pillars of their faith. One of these pillars is praying five times a day in the direction of Mecca. This prayer has to be done on a clean surface which is why Muslims are not allowed to wear shoes into a Mosque. These prayer rugs are an easy way for Muslims to ensure that the surface that they are praying on is clean. They will unroll them when it is time to pray and then roll them back up immediately afterward to keep them clean. These prayer rugs often have images that go along with beliefs in the religion. Commonly, there are depictions of arches to show which end of the rug should point towards Mecca. These rugs never contain images of people or beings because they believe that only Allah can create life.
A number of images can be found on prayer rugs (sajjada, in Arabic). The arch design, mentioned above, is their most distinguishing feature. It symbolizes a mihrab (translated, the "gateway to paradise"), or a prayer niche in all mosques. Other depictions on the rug could include the light of Allah in the form of a lamp hanging in the archway, markings to show the worshiper where they are meant to be during prayer, reminders to wash before prayer (wudu) in the form of water jugs and combs, and quotes from the Quran. As it is believed that only Allah is perfect, the sajjada always contains flaws. As the rug is said to be the very tie between the worshiper and Allah during prayer, they are treated in a very respectful manner. The rugs are always dimensionally small (usually three feet by five feet) for ease in transport.
Bibliography:
We conducted our research by starting simple and searching "Islamic prayer rugs" on Google. In this way we found one of our articles and the pictures we needed. Once we found the term "sajjada", we refined our searches by combining the two search phrases. The database article was found by using an online encyclopedia database and searching for Islamic art.